Inauguration ceremony for infrastructure projects and the first flight operation at Long Thanh International Airport

Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) held a ceremony to inaugurate key facilities and launch the first flight at Long Thanh International Airport (LTIA).

Long Thanh International Airport project is a key national project approved for investment by the National Assembly under Resolution No. 94/2015/QH13 on June 25, 2015, with a designed capacity of 100 million passengers per year and 5 million tons of cargo per year, divided into three phases.

Phase 1 of the investment and construction project comprises four component projects:
Component 1: Headquarters for state management agencies, invested by the relevant state management agencies.

Component 2: Flight management facilities, invested by the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM).

Component 3: Essential airport facilities invested by ACV, including the Passenger Terminal, Cargo Terminal No. 1, Garage, airside works (runways, taxiways, aviation lighting, ILS/DME systems), aprons, and aircraft fuel supply systems. This also includes auxiliary works, general infrastructure, roads, parking lots, bridges, tunnels, power supply, water supply/drainage, lighting, and telecommunications.

Component 4: Other works where the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) presides over the selection of investors, including aircraft maintenance hangars, catering facilities, ground service maintenance areas, aircraft cleaning areas, and express cargo terminals.

In Phase 1, the airport is invested to construct one passenger terminal with a capacity of 25 million passengers per year, meeting the 4F standard, the highest level of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

This project serves not only as a strategic driver for the socio-economic development of the country, particularly for the Southern Key Economic Region, but also stands as a realistic symbol of the country's strong aspirations in a new era of development. It marks a milestone demonstrating the autonomous capability of the Investor and Vietnamese enterprises in investing and constructing world-class, large-scale transport infrastructure and airports that meet green, smart, and 5-star service standards.

From 2020 to 2022, the project implementation was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, creating significant difficulties in construction and the mobilization of experts, especially international consultants, which greatly affected the project's progress. Additionally, the site handover process faced numerous challenges. However, with the intervention of the Government, the Prime Minister, and various Ministries and sectors, the project gradually took shape. The site became a "great construction site" characterized by a spirit of working through holidays and Tet, and "overcoming sun and rain," involving tens of thousands of experts, engineers, and workers alongside thousands of modern machines and equipment, with cooperation from leading international consultants and domestic and international contractors.

To date, Component Project 3, invested by ACV, has not only ensured the highest quality of work but also accelerated progress to shorten the timeline compared to the contract:

• Passenger Terminal (Package 5.10): Has entered the finishing and equipment installation phase, preparing for commercial operations in the first half of 2026.
• Infrastructure: Internal airport traffic and landscaping (Package 4.8) are basically complete, and power systems are active. Connecting traffic works (Package 6.12) are complete and ensured for operation in the first half of 2026.
• Auxiliary Works: Remaining works such as the cargo terminal and Runway No. 2 have basically completed the foundation, ensuring progress for operation in the first half of 2026.
• Airside Works: Runways, taxiways, aprons, equipment, and lighting (Packages 4.6, 4.7) were completed and successfully hosted the first technical flight using a Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft on December 15, 2025.

When put into operation in the first half of 2026, Long Thanh International Airport will become a "Smart Green Airport" meeting international 5-star standards. Beyond large-scale international standard infrastructure, the airport offers seamless experiences through a superior digital journey:
Smart Airport Operations Center (Smart APOC): Utilizing core technology autonomously developed by ACV, this center centrally monitors and manages the entire ICT, technical, security, and traffic systems. This ecosystem affirms ACV's complete autonomy in core technology, eliminating dependence on foreign technology firms.

Digital Passenger Journey:

• Pre-flight: Passengers can use VneID, the iACV App, or airline check-in apps to register for ACV ID biometrics and look up check-in areas, gates, and travel time. Information is synchronized between the Airport Operational Database (AODB), airline systems, and the A08 Immigration system to ensure safety and readiness.
• Arrival at Airport: Experiences include automated Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and Smart Parking using AI cameras that display real-time vacancies, provide automated parking guidance, and enable cashless payment. Traffic data flows to the APOC to regulate flow and reduce congestion.
• In-Terminal Check-in: A seamless digital journey features 96 biometric check-in kiosks (including 12 in the garage) allowing facial recognition and tag printing, 64 biometric Self Bag Drops requiring no physical ID, and 160 traditional counters that also support biometric registration. All data is updated to the AODB, synchronizing passenger, baggage, and flight information.
• Security Screening: Post-check-in security utilizes biometric technology and multi-layer security with 12 automated security lanes (E-Gates) connected to ACV ID/VNeID for rapid passage. The area features 28 CT scanners using 3D X-ray technology (eliminating the need to remove laptops or liquids) and Full Body Scanners utilizing millimeter-wave technology for high-speed, non-intrusive screening (up to 240 people/hour).
• Immigration and Departure: The automated immigration system, coordinated between ACV and the A08 Department (Ministry of Public Security), uses ICAO TRIP and DTC standards for quick exit. The departure area features smart guide robots, AI multi-language support, and biometric payments in duty-free zones.
• Operations: A 3D digital map displays the terminal in real-time, connecting HBMS and SCADA for automated energy and safety management. Passengers utilize Self-Boarding Gates via biometrics without presenting ID documents.

A key technological highlight is the Baggage Handling System (BHS) applying Individual Carrier System (ICS) technology connected to CT scanners (EDS ECAC3). With scanning speeds of 0.5m/s and high-resolution 3D imaging, the system automatically detects explosives and classifies baggage with modern efficiency and reliability. The Early Baggage System (EBS) allows for the automated sorting and storage of early check-in luggage, enabling passengers to check in hours ahead of regulation time, thereby reducing congestion. The BHS connects directly to the ACV-developed AODB-AMS platform for real-time monitoring, ensuring data transparency and reducing lost luggage in the OneID journey.

Additional technologies include smart aircraft docking systems, surveillance cameras, water treatment and reuse systems, solar energy, and green traffic infrastructure with specialized charging areas for Ground Support Equipment (GSE).

These modern technologies are not only a source of pride but also a solid foundation for creating immense socio-economic value for the country. The technical inauguration of Long Thanh International Airport today is the clearest evidence of ACV's efforts, marking a historic step for the Investor in conquering major national projects and proving itself worthy of its leading role in investing, constructing, and managing the national airport system as assigned by the State.